That won't handle the fear or desire. If you don't first handle fear and desire, and you get rich, you'll only be a high-paid slave." "So how do we avoid the trap?" I asked. "The main cause of poverty or financial struggle is fear and ignorance, not the economy or the government or the rich. It's self-inflicted fear and ignorance that keeps people trapped. So you boys go to school and get your college de- grees. I'll teach you how to stay out of the trap." The pieces of the puzzle were appearing. My highly ed- ucated dad had a great education and a great career. But school never told him how to handle money or his fears. It became clear that I could learn different and important things from two fathers. "So you've been talking about the fear of not having money. How does the desire of money affect our think- ing?" Mike asked. "How did you feel when I tempted you with a pay raise? Did you notice your desires rising?" We nodded our heads. "By not givjnjn_Joyour emotions, you were able to delay your reactions and think. That is most important. We will always have emotions of fear and greed. From here on in, it is most important for you to useJhose emotions to your advagejniiJbrJueJkm and not simply let your emotions run you by controlling your thinking. Most people use fear and greed against themselves. That's the start of ignorance. Most people live their lives chasing pay- checks, pay raises and job security because of the emo- tions of desire and fear, not really questioning where those emotion-driven thoughts are leading them. It's just like the picture of a donkey, dragging a cart, with its owner dan- gling a carrot just in front of the donkey's nose. The don- key's owner may be going where he wants to go, but the donkey is chasing an illusion. Tomorrow there will only be anothenSrrot for the donkey." "You mean the moment I began to picture a new base- ball glove, candy and toys, that's like a carrot to a donkey?" Mike asked. "Yeah. And as you get older, your toys get more ex- pensive. A new car, a boat and a big house to impress your friends," said rich dad with a smile. "Fear pushes you out the door, and desire calls to you, enticing you toward the rocks. That's the trap." "So what's the answer?" Mike asked. "What intensifies fear and desirejs ignorance. That is why rich people with lots of money often have more fear the richer they get. Money is the carrot, the illusion. If the donkey could see the whole pTcture, it might rethink its choice to chase the carrot." Rich dad went on to explain that a human's life is a sjtruggje_between ignorance and illumination. He explained that once a person stops searching for jn- formationand knowledge of one's self, ignorance sets in. That struggle is a moment-to-moment decision-to learn to open or close one's mind. "Look, school is very, very important.